Lifting Hooks/Straps vs Raw Grip

In the end, it really depends on your goals. Are you a powerlifter or a bodybuilder? For me, raw lifting is the best. Sure, straps and hooks have their uses, but if you can manage it raw, do it raw. It builds grip strength, forearms, wrists—those smaller muscles that contribute to overall strength. Plus, it feels much better knowing you didn’t rely on straps. I have small wrists from my mom too, but I still work hard on my grip. I only think about straps when I’m doing extremely heavy, high-rep sets when my grip is exhausted, in my opinion. Going raw just makes you tougher. Bar in hand, no assistance—get it done!

Just wait until the ‘If you can’t hold it, you shouldn’t lift it’ crowd jumps in, LOL. The only time you should avoid straps or figure 8s is if you compete in powerlifting and need to hold the bar for deadlifts. If you’re handling 220kg or more, you HAVE to train your grip to be competitive. However, try to limit the use of gripping aids whenever you can, as it can hinder your forearm and finger strength. I know everyone wants big forearms and a strong grip. I do bodyweight and weighted chin-ups specifically for grip strength, and it has really helped me develop thick forearms. I’ve never used wrist wraps for bench presses, even at max weights, which has helped me maintain strong forearms since they can’t tilt when the bar is in my grip. You can definitely lift more with figure 8s and straps because they save your grip strength, allowing you to focus on your back, legs, and hips. Straps also help prevent bicep tears when lifting, even for those with strong grips. If you’ve never tried them, you might want to consider it.

LOL! That’s exactly why I thought this would be a good topic—the ‘raw brigade.’ Personally, I really enjoy using lifting hooks on my back days. I use them every back session and will keep doing so. The mind-muscle connection I achieve with my back is incredible with hooks compared to without. Everyone has their own lifting style and preferences. I’m definitely not a powerlifter, but I wanted to open up this conversation since I haven’t seen much about it. I haven’t tried chalk; I might give it a shot for bench. I only do dumbbell bench presses, but I can see how it would help. I suppose it would also be beneficial for chin-ups. My chin-up performance has skyrocketed since I started using the juice. I can pull up to my shoulders, so my head is quite a bit above the bar. I really focus on using my lats to push myself that high. It feels great. When I reach about 80 percent of failure on chin-ups, I hold myself at shoulder height and swing side to side. I want that intense look to show up in my back!

I don’t see a problem with using lifting aids. If your grip is the limiting factor on a lift, why not use something that helps you add more weight? It can also be a safety measure for deadlifts. You mentioned hooks allowing you to concentrate on the target muscle, which is a valid reason. Plus, if your grip is fatigued from a previous workout but you still want to pull, straps and hooks can be very useful. Ultimately, as long as you’re training your grip, there’s nothing wrong with using aids occasionally. Some people may have injuries that require them to use straps and wraps all the time. Anyway, just do you, man.

Absolutely, I enjoy using hooks even if I’m not lifting heavy. I know the reasons for using them and I’ll keep it up. Just thought it’d spark some interesting discussions or debates. All points are valid here, broski.

Straps, sleeves, belts, chalk—use whatever you like. Just don’t compare assisted lifts to raw lifts; they’re in different categories. The thrill of my 250kg squat with assistance can’t be compared to your raw squat.

My assistance always slips out.

The trick is to coat it in liquid chalk before inserting; it dries and stays in place.

You’re spot on. If you’re a powerlifter and can’t use straps for deadlifts in competition, your grip strength is the only thing that matters. In bodybuilding, it’s smart to use straps for your top sets while training your forearms separately.

Sounds messy. I was thinking about using gorilla glue; I prefer white liquid.